In the 1894 story, "The story of an Hour", Kate Chopin appeals to the reader's sympathy, when the lead character, Mrs. Mallard, receives the news of her husbands "tragic death". Even though Mrs. Mallard loved her husband, once the wave of grief passed she began to daydream of her life as a "free" woman. When her husband walked through her doorway alive, all of her fantasies came to abrupt end. Her heart failed her, resulting in her own death. The author uses characterization, to appeal to the reader's senses, thoughts, and feelings, to develop the theme of a nineteenth century woman's desire for equal rights. .
The author uses characterization throughout the story to appeal to the reader's senses. Mrs. Mallard was conveyed as different from most women by not being "with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance" (3), when referring to her reaction to the news of her husbands death. The "storm of grief" (3) as she wept, shows Mrs. Mallards sudden passionate response to the death. Another hint at the difference in character of Mrs. Mallard to other women was the desire to be alone in her room when most would turn to family and friends for comfort. "She would have no one follow her" (3).
Chopin brings the integrity of the young wife's love for her husband into question, as the occasional sob fades with the realization that she will no longer lead the repressed life of the pre-women's rights era. Mrs. Mallard's integrity is somewhat restored when she tried to resist the "something"(9) that came "creeping out of the sky"(9) "to possess her"(10). She used what inner strength she possessed to try to will herself to resist. When she finally abandoned herself and welcomed the feelings that were overpowering her she uttered the words "Free, free, free!" The sheer exaltation of her life before her as a free woman caused her to dismiss any doubts as to the appropriateness of her feelings.
In "The Story of an Hour", Mrs. Mallard has a heart condition that everyone seems to know about, and they want to give her some tragic news gently. Mr. Mallard is supposedly dead and this comes to Mrs. Mallard at an unexpected moment in her life. She is very much in shock and has to be alone. The re...
When most people envision the death of a loved one, tragedy, loss, mourning and denial most often come to mind. This person has usually become such a crucial part of one's life that her/his death can seem as if fragments of one's own identity are lost. However, women in the 19th-century did not ha...
When a person dies his or her life is celebrated. It is a time when everyone remembers all the good qualities the person had and the good events that the person had lived through. They celebrate life, not death. Mrs. Mallard does not rejoice in the good memories she has shared with her husband; r...
The story of an hour is a short story with a powerful message. The characters are few as well. There is Mrs. Mallard, Mr. Mallard, Josephine, and Richards. This story takes place in the Mallards home during the late 1900's. The whole incident takes about an hour total. The story is written with an i...
The Freedom of an Hour Freedom of body and soul is the most important right any person can have. Unfortunately, often times the freedom of a woman is infringed upon by her husband; a person who is supposedly held so sacred and dear. In "The Story of an Hour," by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Mallard is sudd...
Mrs. ... Mrs. ... Brently Mallard's untimely death was Mrs. ... With this new freedom, Mrs Mallard and her sister descend the stairs together, meeting Richards at the bottom. ... It is Brently Mallard, unharmed and composed, unaware of the train wreck and of Mrs. ...
During the first half of the 19th century, women were not allowed to have the same freedom as the men had, it was in the judgment of law, church or government for women not to be able to divorce their husband or win their right to care for their children. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour", Mr...
Women over many centuries have played biggest role in our society. In the early times they were mostly mothers, house wives, and care takers. Women were not allowed to have equal rights as men. Today, women are equal as men. Women are given equal choices, the right to be free, right to work, rig...
In the story "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, the author introduces the reader to a woman named Mrs. Mallard. Through explicit descriptions, such as "She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength" (Chopin 362), the reader is able to get a cl...